Strapi
Sanity
Detailed comparison of Strapi and Sanity — two headless cms platforms. Compare features, performance, pricing, and find out which is right for your project in 2026.
Start MigrationIt depends — Strapi and Sanity serve different use cases well. Choose Strapi for Developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control. Choose Sanity for Developer-led teams wanting maximum flexibility in content modeling and editing experience.
Official docs: Strapi Documentation · Sanity Documentation
| Feature | Strapi | Sanity |
|---|---|---|
Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Flexibility | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Cost Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Scalability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Ecosystem | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Detail | Strapi | Sanity |
|---|---|---|
Language / Stack | Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript) | JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio) |
Type | headless cms | headless cms |
Pricing | Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud) | Free / $15+/month per user |
Open Source | Yes | Yes |
Best For | Developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control | Developer-led teams wanting maximum flexibility in content modeling and editing experience |
Export Method | REST API, GraphQL API, or database export | GROQ API, GraphQL API, or Sanity CLI export |
The right choice between Strapi and Sanity depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.
Both platforms sit in the same category — headless cms — so the deciding factors are ecosystem size, editorial workflow, and specific feature gaps. Strapi uses Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript), while Sanity runs on JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio). If your developers already know one of those stacks, lean toward that platform to reduce ramp-up time.
From a cost perspective, both platforms are open-source, so the real cost difference is hosting and operational overhead. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.
Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP supports migration between 60+ platforms, so you're never locked in regardless of which you pick today.
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